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Summer 2008

Public Sector Nursing Review Kicks Off

IN 2007, HACSU and the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) settled on a comprehensive agreement to increase wages and conditions for the public sector.

The agreement shifted nurse salaries closer to their interstate public sector counterparts; however, disappointingly, Tasmanian nurses remain some of the lowest paid nurses across Australia.

The agreement was registered in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission and work commenced on the implementation on a range of matters outlined in the agreement.

The most contentious issue contained within the agreement was a clause that dealt with a review of the current Nursing Hours per Patient Day model of workload management.

This matter caused significant anxiety amongst members throughout the wages campaign, as the Government had signalled its intention to abolish the workload management tool very early in the negotiation process.

Clause 18 of the final agreement established a process of reviewing the current model under the auspices of an independent Chair.

The review commenced recently following the appointment of Commissioner Gay of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission as the independent Chair.

Much of the early discussion has related to the scope of the project and the development of a work plan.

The scope of the project includes the sectors covered by the model, a review of the current model, and the development of a new model.

This review is highly contentious as safety and staffing levels have been hotly debated for many years.

The ultimate outcome should ensure that gains made in the past endure but also ensure that services to the community can be maintained into the future.

The timeframes established at this stage see this process finalising in late November 2008, however HACSU will keep members informed of events regarding this matter as the process unfolds.